Better late than never Hesperus Ski Area opens Feb. 14

Mother Nature has been fashionably late to Southwest Colorado this season, but that’s no reason to cancel the party. After 13 inches of snow this week, and more in the forecast, the powers that be at Purgatory Resort fired up the bull wheel at its little sister ski area, Hesperus, on Feb. 14.

“Everyone at Hesperus is excited to kick off the ski season on Wednesday,” Ben Beresford, mountain manager at Hesperus Ski Area, said in a press release. “We’ve been hard at work, making enhancements to our facilities in order to improve the guest experience, and we’re excited to showcase all of our efforts.”

Exciting improvements at the little hill nestled in the scrub oak include a new ski school yurt, an expanded rental shop, upgraded rental equipment, and a revamped day lodge. In addition to skis and snowboards, Hesperus also now offers ski bike rentals.

Adult lift tickets are $39 full-day, $29 for night skiing. Kids 7 years and younger, fourth- through sixth-graders, and those 70 and older ski free every day. Purgatory season pass holders also ski for free.